U.S. patent number 8,684,761 [Application Number 13/355,750] was granted by the patent office on 2014-04-01 for solar insulation displacement connector.
The grantee listed for this patent is Christopher Volpe, Jacob Weaver. Invention is credited to Christopher Volpe, Jacob Weaver.
United States Patent |
8,684,761 |
Weaver , et al. |
April 1, 2014 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Solar insulation displacement connector
Abstract
In one embodiment, a solar insulation displacement connector
(IDC) is described. The example solar IDC includes a base
configured with at least one pathway. The pathway may include a
plurality of ridges. At least one pathway is configured with at
least one conductive cutter. The conductive cutter is formed from a
conductive material (e.g., copper, silver, gold, nickel, brass).
The example solar IDC includes a cover configured to hold a wire in
the at least one pathway when the cover is affixed to the base of
the solar IDC. The solar IDC is configured to be mechanically
connected to a conductor of the wire by the at least one conductive
cutter. The at least one conductive cutter is configured to cut an
insulation of the wire. An inverter is operably connected to the
solar IDC. The example solar IDC and the inverter are fabricated as
a unit.
Inventors: |
Weaver; Jacob (Deerfield,
OH), Volpe; Christopher (Cleveland, OH) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Weaver; Jacob
Volpe; Christopher |
Deerfield
Cleveland |
OH
OH |
US
US |
|
|
Family
ID: |
47362268 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/355,750 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2012 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20120329309 A1 |
Dec 27, 2012 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
61500876 |
Jun 24, 2011 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/404; 136/244;
439/417; 439/76.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
4/242 (20130101); Y02E 10/50 (20130101); H02S
40/34 (20141201) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
4/24 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/404,417,76.1
;136/244 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Vu; Hien
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
61/500,876 filed Jun. 24, 2011 titled Weaver Insulation
Displacement Connector.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus, comprising: an insulation displacement connector
(IDC) having a base configured with at least one pathway, where the
at least one pathway is configured with at least one conductive
cutter, and an IDC cover configured to hold a wire in the at least
one pathway when the IDC cover is affixed to the base; where the
IDC is configured to be mechanically connected to a conductor of
the wire by at least one conductive cutter, where the at least one
conductive cutter is configured to cut an insulation of the wire,
and where the at least one conductive cutter acts as a terminal for
the inverter; and an inverter operably connected to the IDC, where
the IDC and the inverter are fabricated as a unit; where the base
of the IDC further comprises: a plurality of ridges in the at least
one pathway, where area between the ridges is comprised of
openings, and where the IDC is affixed to the inverter to allow the
at least one conductive cutter access to the interior of the
inverter and the interior of the IDC.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, where the wire comprises the conductor
of the wire surrounded by the insulation of the wire.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, where the IDC cover is configured with
cover cutouts that correspond to the base cutouts, providing
clearance for the wire through the IDC when the IDC cover is
affixed to the base.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, where the IDC cover is configured with
pressure protrusions, where the pressure protrusions are configured
to hold the wire in the at least one pathway.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, where a cutter is affixed to the
inverter and passes through the openings and into the pathway of
the IDC.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, where the size of the pathways and
conductive cutters is determined by a characteristic of the
wire.
7. An insulation displacement connector (IDC) apparatus,
comprising: a plurality of conductive cutters, where a conductive
cutter is configured to displace the insulation of at least one
wire and make contact with a conductor of the at least one wire,
and where the conductive cutter is configured to be a terminal to
operably connect the conductor of the at least one wire with an
inverter, and a plurality of pathways, where a pathway is
configured with at least one conductive cutter of the plurality of
conductive cutters, and where a pathway is configured to
accommodate at least on wire; the IDC apparatus being configured to
be constructed with the inverter as a single unit; where a first
pathway having a first conductive cutter as a first terminal for
the inverter, where the first pathway is configured to accommodate
a first wire; and a second pathway having a second conductive
cutter as a second terminal for the inverter, where the second
pathway is configured to accommodate a second wire; and where a
conductive connection is made between the first wire and the second
wire through the inverter.
8. The IDC apparatus of claim 7, where a pathway of the plurality
of pathways is configured with at least two conductive cutters.
9. The IDC apparatus of claim 7, where the first pathway and the
second pathway are configured to accommodate both a splice
connection and a butt connection.
10. The IDC apparatus of claim 7, where the first pathway is
configured to accommodate both a splice connection and a butt
connection.
11. The IDC apparatus of claim 7, comprising a second pathway
having a second pathway first conductive cutter and a second
pathway second conductive cutter, where the second pathway first
conductive cutter is configured as third terminal for the inverter
to accommodate a third wire in the second pathway, and where a
second pathway second conductive cutter is configured as a fourth
terminal for the inverter to accommodate a fourth wire in the
second pathway; and where a connection is made between the third
wire in the second pathway and the fourth wire in the second
pathway through the inverter.
12. The IDC apparatus of claim 7, where the IDC apparatus is
environmentally sealed, and where at least one wire in a pathway of
the IDC apparatus is protected from environmental conditions.
13. The IDC apparatus of claim 7, where at least one wire can be
removed from the IDC apparatus and the IDC apparatus can be used
with a different wire.
14. The IDC apparatus of claim 7, where the inverter is a
microinverter.
15. The IDC apparatus of claim 14, where the at least one wire is
accommodated by the pathway and the microinverter is wired with a
microinverter wire; and where a connection is made between the at
least one wire and the microinverter wire through the inverter.
Description
BACKGROUND
Insulation displacement connector (IDC) technology was originally
developed in the telecommunications industry for making multiple
connections. IDC technology has been applied in many applications.
For example, IDC technology is used in butt connections and
splicing of electrical wires. In a butt connection, two wires are
electrically connected together. In splicing, a wire is
electrically connected to a trunk line. The IDC permits the
connections to be made without a separate insulation stripping step
because the IDC cuts and displaces the wire insulation with a
sharpened conductor contact. Insulation piercing technology differs
from IDC technology in that instead of forcing the wire into a
sharpened connector, a piercing pointed stake is forced through the
insulation and into the conductor.
Conventionally, connections were made by stripping wires and
crimping or soldering connections. Stripping wires and crimping or
soldering connections is time consuming and problematic especially
for work taking place in the field. To avoid stripping, crimping,
or soldering connections, connections were made from one electrical
device to the next using a pig-tail wire with a factory installed
connector (pin) with an environmental seal. The factory installed
connector may be mated to a connector on the next electrical
device. When the connection is made, an environmental seal is
established. In some cases, the pig-tail may be connected to a
trunk wire, which is subsequently connected to the next device. The
trunk wire may have factory installed mating connectors at specific
locations in the wire. Although factory installed mating connectors
provide convenient installation, the mating connectors add
considerable cost and lack flexibility since wire lengths or
positions between connectors on trunk wires are fixed. Furthermore,
mating connectors have been shown to have lower reliability than
IDC technology.
In a variant of the trunk wire with mating connectors, a flat
profile trunk line may utilize a factory installed connector with
insulation piercing barbs. The final connection to the trunk line
is made by piercing rather than pin based factory installed
connectors. The flat profile trunk line is typically proprietary.
Using proprietary wires limits options and availability, and also
suffers from most of the same cost concerns as the factory
installed pig-tail and end connectors. Once the specific piercing
connector has been used to pierce a trunk line, the insulation
piercing connector can be removed and either the trunk wire
replaced or another device connected to the trunk wire at that
point using another piercing connector. However, the piercing
connectors and trunk wires must be in the same proprietary family
of products. Again, this restricts material selection and
availability. Also, this piercing connector does not provide the
option of a butt connection. If a section of trunk wire must be
replaced, either the entire wire must be replaced or a separate
butt splice must be performed and environmentally sealed to connect
the new section of trunk line to the remaining trunk line.
Existing IDCs are inadequate for use in solar microinverter
connection applications. IDC technology is commonly intended for
single use and in applications where an environmental seal is
required. For example, removing the IDC connector exposes the
wire's conductor to the environment at the point where the
insulation has been displaced. IDCs that have been used in power
line applications have a seal, but if the IDC is removed and
replaced by another IDC, the environmental seal is generally not
preserved. This is especially problematic in the solar energy
context because solar panels are typically located in outdoor areas
that are susceptible to environmental conditions. For example,
solar panels may be placed on the rooftops of residential homes or
even high rises, both of which may endure high winds,
precipitation, freezing temperatures, and freeze and thaw
conditions.
Existing IDCs are designed for either wire to wire or printed
circuit board (PCB) to wire applications. PCB to wire IDCs are not
environmentally sealed. In the solar energy context, the trunk line
and component parts are connected to the microinverter. The
connection with the microinverter is an opportunity for sealant
problems to occur due to the insulation or the IDC environment
being breached. Furthermore, the mechanical nature of conventional
IDCs makes a conventional IDC capable of either a butt connection
or a splice connection, but not both in the same connector. Thus,
in a situation where either a section of a trunk wire is damaged
and needs to be replaced or the end of a trunk wire length and an
additional length needs to be added, a combination of several
separate environmentally sealed connections would have to be made.
This has disadvantages of cost, time, and increased potential for
leakage as many environmental seals would need to be
maintained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
a part of the specification, illustrate various example systems,
methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the
invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element
boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the
figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element
may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may
be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as
an internal component of another element may be implemented as an
external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be
drawn to scale.
FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an apparatus including a Solar IDC
associated with an inverter.
FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of an apparatus including a Solar
IDC, with the cover of the Solar IDC removed, associated with an
inverter.
FIG. 2B illustrates a bottom view of a cover of a Solar IDC.
FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view of an apparatus
including a Solar IDC, with the cover of the Solar IDC removed.
FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cover of a Solar
IDC.
FIG. 4A illustrates an embodiment of a Solar IDC.
FIG. 4B illustrates an embodiment of a cover of a Solar IDC.
FIG. 5A illustrates additional detail of the interior of a Solar
IDC.
FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example wire for
use in conjunction with a cutter of a Solar IDC.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Example apparatus and methods provide a Solar insulation
displacement connector (IDC). The Solar IDC employs conductive
cutters to act as terminals to an inverter. Wires may be seated in
pathways containing cutters. Cutters are made of conductive
materials (e.g., copper, silver, gold, nickel, brass). The cutters
slice through the insulation of a wire and expose the conductor of
the wire. The wire is held in place in the pathway such that the
cutter stays in contact with the conductor of the wire. Thus, an
electrical connection is formed between the cutter and the
conductor of the wire. In addition to the connection between the
cutter and the conductor of the wire, there is a connection between
the cutter and the inverter. These connections cause the Solar IDC
to create electrical continuity between the inverter's circuitry
(e.g. printed circuit board) and the wires seated within the Solar
IDC.
The Solar IDC and an inverter may be fabricated as a single unit.
By fabricating the Solar IDC and the inverter together the number
of post manufacture connections can be limited to only those that
are connected in the field. This results in a reduction of
connections that can lead to breaches in the sealing of the Solar
IDC and inverter because the Solar IDC and the inverter do not need
to be connected in the field. This is useful in the solar energy
context where connections made post manufacture are typically done
outdoors and are susceptible to environmental conditions.
Once post manufacture connections are made in the field, the Solar
IDC is environmentally sealed. Environmental sealing is a barrier
to environmental conditions that may degrade the effectiveness of
the Solar IDC. Environmental conditions may include weather
conditions (e.g., high winds, precipitation, freezing conditions),
contaminants (e.g., smog, pollution), or terrain conditions.
Terrain conditions are dependent on the location of the solar
system. For example, in the solar energy context a solar system on
a rooftop may encounter terrain conditions such as roofing
materials (e.g., paint, tar, roofing nails) that may interfere with
wires, the Solar IDC, or the inverter. A solar system located in a
field may have to contend with different terrain conditions (e.g.,
pollen, animals, overgrowth).
The environmental sealing of the Solar IDC is a natural consequence
of how the Solar IDC is formed. The Solar IDC's main body comprises
two components: a base and a cover. The cover of the Solar IDC has
a cover edge that fits over a base edge of the base of the Solar
IDC. The cover edge and the base edge may be made out of a rigid
material (e.g., plastic compounds, metal). The cover edge and the
base edge form a dual barrier. Even if an environmental condition
were to penetrate the cover edge of the cover, the Solar IDC would
be protected by the base edge of the base. The environmental seal
is further bolstered by the closeness of fit between the cover and
the base. The fit may be enhanced with a flexible sealing agent
(e.g., gasket, gel, adhesive). The flexible sealing agent may be
reversible so that the cover of the Solar IDC can be removed from
the base.
Cutouts in the cover edge and the base edge allow wires to enter
and exit the Solar IDC. The cutouts may be fitted with grommets.
The grommets act as an additional barrier to keep environmental
conditions from affecting the Solar IDC. The grommets may vary in
size allowing different gauge wire to be used. For example, gauge 2
wire may be used with grommet with a larger opening. For higher
gauge wire, grommets with smaller openings may be used.
Additionally, grommets may have no openings and thereby act as a
cover. Grommets being used as covers may prevent environmental
conditions from affecting the Solar IDC when an opening in the
Solar IDC is not in use.
The interior of the Solar IDC contains a plurality of pathways. A
pathway creates a clearance through the Solar IDC for a wire, where
the wire consists of a conductor surrounded by an insulator. The
wires may be of different make or manufacture and are not limited
to a specific proprietary wire. The wires are held in place in the
pathway with an appropriate amount of force by pressure protrusions
affixed to the cover of the Solar IDC.
Cutters are located in the pathways. When a wire is held in place
in a pathway, the wire is also forced onto a cutter in that
pathway. The cutters are configured to displace the insulation of
the wire and expose the conductor of the wire. Because the cutters
are made of conductive materials, the cutters also act as terminals
for the inverter. When the wire is placed in the cutter and held
there by the pressure protrusions, the conductive cutter is held in
contact with the conductor of the wire. Therefore, the cutters of
the Solar IDC act as terminals allowing the wires within the Solar
IDC to access the circuitry of the inverter.
In one embodiment, the Solar IDC has two pathways. Connections
between wires are made in a pathway. A pathway may be configured
with a pair of cutters. The cutter makes contact with the conductor
of a wire. The cutter may be designed to make contact with the
conductor of the wire on three sides. For example, the cutter may
form a "U" shape, such that when the wire is seated into the "U"
shape the insulation is displaced around roughly 75% of the wire.
Alternatively, the cutter may form two parallel lines to slice
through the insulation on either side of the wire. A cutter cuts
through the insulation of the wire and makes contact with the
conductor. By making contact with the conductor of the wire, the
cutters act as terminals to the microinverter.
In one embodiment, the conductor of a first wire makes contact with
the first cutter in the pair of cutters located in a pathway. The
conductor of a second wire makes contact with the second cutter in
the pair of cutters located in the pathway. In this manner, the
first wire and the second wire are connected by the cutters because
the cutters act as terminals for the inverter. Because the Solar
IDC is wired in parallel, the type of connection (e.g. butt
connection, splice connection) between the wires is
inconsequential.
Also unlike conventional IDCs, the Solar IDC can accommodate both a
butt connection and a splice connection. Specifically, the two
pathways in the Solar IDC may accommodate two connections. For
example, a first pathway may accommodate a butt connection in which
two wires enter a first pathway of the Solar IDC from opposing
sides of the Solar IDC. Pressure protrusions are located on the
bottom of the cover of the Solar IDC. The pressure protrusions may
be located above the cutters to apply adequate pressure on the
wires into the cutters. A second pathway may accommodate a trunk
line and an additional wire to create a splice connection. Thus, a
first pathway may accommodate a splice connection and a second
pathway may accommodate a butt connection. While two connections
are described, more or fewer connections may be made in the Solar
IDC with more or fewer pathways and cutters.
In one embodiment, wire retention mechanisms (e.g., clamps, wire
retentions, grips) are used to apply pressure to the wire(s) in a
pathway to hold the wire(s) in place. When the wire retention
mechanisms apply pressure by way of mechanical force, the wire
retention mechanisms prevent the wire(s) from being warped (e.g.,
pulled, twisted, bent) once the wire(s) are installed in a pathway
of the Solar IDC.
The following includes definitions of selected terms employed
herein. The definitions include various examples and/or forms of
components that fall within the scope of a term and that may be
used for implementation. The examples are not intended to be
limiting. Both singular and plural forms of terms may be within the
definitions.
References to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "one example", "an
example", and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s)
so described may include a particular feature, structure,
characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not
every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular
feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or
limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase "in one
embodiment" does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment,
though it may.
FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 100 that includes a Solar
insulation displacement connector (IDC) 110. The Solar IDC 110 is
configured to accommodate wires and allow the wires to make
connections within the Solar IDC 110. The wires may be associated
with a solar system. The apparatus 100 also includes an inverter
120. The inverter 120 may be a microinverter. The inverter 120 is
configured to convert direct current (DC) to alternating current
(AC). The inverter may be solar microinverter for converting DC
from a solar panel to AC. The Solar IDC 110 and the inverter 120
may be fabricated as a single unit to reduce the number of post
manufacture connections to connections made in the field.
FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of an apparatus 200 including a
Solar IDC 110 with the cover 260 removed. The Solar IDC 110
comprises a base 210. The base 210 contains blocks 233, 235, and
237 that define pathways 243 and 247. Block 233 and block 235
define a first pathway 243. Likewise, block 235 and block 237
define a second pathway 247. The blocks 233, 235, and 237 can be
placed in the base 210 based on the gauge of the wire being seated
in the pathway. For example, if an application calls for a lower
gauge (larger diameter) wire, the blocks 233 and 235 may be placed
further apart to make the first pathway 243 wider. Alternatively,
if an application calls for a larger gauge (smaller diameter) wire,
the blocks 233 and 235 may be placed closer together to make the
first pathway 243 narrower.
The first pathway 243 and the second pathway 247 do not have to be
of equal width. The Solar IDC 110 may accommodate a plurality of
varying connections. Accordingly, the width of the first pathway
243 and the second pathway 247 may be dependent on the type of the
connection being made in the pathway. Blocks 233, 235, and 237 are
secured to the base 210. The blocks 233, 235, and 237 may be
secured using fasteners (e.g., screws, nuts, bolts) or
adhesive.
The pathways 243 and 247 include cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258.
The first pathway 243 has a first pathway first cutter 252 and a
first pathway second cutter 254. Similarly, the second pathway 247
has a second pathway first cutter 256 and a second pathway second
cutter 258. The cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 may be placed in the
pathways 243 and 247 based on the type of wire being used. Wires
may be seated within a pathway to create connections that interface
with the inverter 120.
In one embodiment, the first pathway first cutter 252 and the first
pathway second cutter 254 in the first pathway 243 are wired to the
inverter 120 to make a connection in conjunction with the second
pathway first cutter 256 and the second pathway second cutter 258
in the second pathway 247. For example, a first wire may be seated
in the first pathway 243. The first pathway first cutter 252 and
the first pathway second cutter 254 cut through the insulation of
the first wire and make contact with the conductor of the first
wire. Thus, the conductor of the first wire uses the first pathway
first cutter 252 and the first pathway second cutter 254 as
terminals to the inverter 120. A second wire is seated in the
second pathway 247. The second pathway first cutter 256 and the
second pathway second cutter 258 cut through the insulation of the
second wire and make contact with the conductor of the second wire.
Thus, the conductor of the second wire uses the second pathway
first cutter 256 and the second pathway second cutter 258 as
terminals to the inverter 120. In this manner, the first wire is
connected to the second wire through the inverter 120.
The first pathway first cutter 252 and the first pathway second
cutter 254 in the first pathway 243 are wired to the inverter 120
such that two wires can be connected in the first pathway 243. For
example, a first wire may be seated in a first portion of the first
pathway 243 such that the first wire is cut by the first pathway
first cutter 252. Thus, the conductor of the first wire uses the
first pathway first cutter 252 as a terminal to the inverter 120. A
second wire may be seated in a second portion of the first pathway
243 such that the second wire is cut by the first pathway second
cutter 254. The conductor of the second wire uses the first pathway
second cutter 254 as a terminal to the inverter 120. The second
pathway first cutter 256 and the second pathway second cutter 258
may be wired similarly to act as terminals for the inverter so that
a connection between two wires can be made in the second pathway
247. Thus, the Solar IDC 110 may be configured to accommodate two
connections (e.g., a butt connection, a splice connection) at the
same time.
In one embodiment, the first pathway 243 or the second pathway 247
may also accommodate a connection with a wire wired into the
inverter 120. An inverter 120 has the inverter circuitry (e.g.
printed circuit board) that may operate in conjunction with a wire
wired into the inverter 120. Because the cutters 252, 254, 256, and
258 act as terminals to the inverter 120, a wire in the first
pathway 243 or second pathway 247 may be connected with a wire
wired into the inverter through the cutters 252, 254, 256, and
258.
FIG. 2B illustrates a bottom view of a Solar IDC cover 260 that has
been removed. The Solar IDC cover 260 is configured with pressure
protrusions 262, 264, 266, and 268. The pressure protrusions are
affixed (e.g. epoxy, sealant, screws) to the Solar IDC cover 260.
Alternatively, the pressure protrusions 262, 264, 266, and 268 to
the Solar IDC cover 260 may be fabricated as a single piece.
The pressure protrusions are configured to apply pressure to a wire
in a pathway, thereby forcing the wire to be seated on a cutter.
The pressure protrusions 262, 264, 266, 268 may be positioned
directly over the cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 (shown in FIG. 2A)
causing a wire to be pushed down on the cutters 252, 254, 256, and
258 when the Solar IDC cover 260 is fitted on the base 210. For
example, pressure protrusion 262 may be positioned directly over
the first pathway first cutter 252. Pressure protrusion 264 may be
positioned directly over the first pathway second cutter 254. Thus,
when a wire is placed in pathway 243 (shown in FIG. 2A), pressure
protrusions 262 and 264 push the wire on to the cutters 252 and
254, respectively. Consequently, the insulation of the wire is cut
by the cutters 252 and 254 and the cutters 252 and 254 are held in
contact with the exposed conductor of the wire. Thereby improving
the ability of the cutters 252 and 254 to act as terminals for the
inverter 120 (shown in FIG. 2A).
FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view of apparatus 200
including a Solar IDC 110, with the cover 260 of the Solar IDC 110
removed, associated with an inverter 120. The base 210 of the Solar
IDC 110 has a base edge 310 that extends perpendicularly from the
base 210. The base edge 310 may be made out of a rigid material
(e.g., plastic compounds, metal).
FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cover 260 of a
Solar IDC 110. The Solar IDC cover 260 has a cover edge 370. The
cover edge 370 may be made out of a rigid material (e.g., plastic
compounds, metal). The base edge 310 and the cover edge 370 form a
dual barrier. Even if an environmental condition were to penetrate
the cover edge 370, the Solar IDC 210 would be protected by the
base edge 310. Therefore, an environmental condition would have to
penetrate the cover edge 370 and the base edge 310. The possibility
of that occurring is reduced by the close fit of the cover edge 370
and the base edge 310. The fit may be enhanced with a flexible
sealing agent (e.g., gasket, gel, adhesive). The flexible sealing
agent may be reversible so that the Solar IDC cover 260 can be
removed from the base 210 of the Solar IDC 110.
FIG. 4A illustrates a Solar IDC 410. In one embodiment, the Solar
IDC 410 may be secured to the top surface of the inverter 120 with
fasteners (e.g., screws, nuts, bolts) or adhesive. The base edge
310 has base cutouts 422, 424, 426, and 428. The base cutouts 422,
424, 426, and 428 provide clearance for wires entering and exiting
the Solar IDC 110.
A wire seated in the first pathway 243 may enter the Solar IDC 210
through base cutout 422 and exit the Solar IDC 210 through base
cutout 426. Likewise, a wire seated in the second pathway 247 may
enter the base 210 of the Solar IDC 110 through base cutout 424 and
exit the Solar IDC 110 through base cutout 428. One of ordinary
skill in the art will recognize that the size of the base cutouts
422, 424, 426, and 428 may be dependent on the gauge of wire being
used in conjunction with the Solar IDC 110.
The base cutouts 422, 424, 426, and 428 may be fitted with grommets
to create an environmental barrier to prevent environmental
contaminates from entering the Solar IDC 110 through base cutouts
422, 424, 426, and 428. A grommet may be configured to create a
seal between a base cutout 422, 424, 426, and 428 and the wire.
Additionally, the base cutouts 422, 424, 426, and 428 may be
configured with covers to prevent environmental contaminates from
entering the Solar IDC 110 when a base cutout 422, 424, 426, or 428
is not in use.
The Solar IDC 410 is formed with a plurality of ridges 430 and 440.
The area between the plurality of ridges 430 and 440 passes through
the Solar IDC 410. The Solar IDC 410 has a plurality of ridges 430
in the first pathway 243 and a plurality of ridges 440 in the
second pathway 247. The area between the plurality of ridges 430
and 440 is comprised of openings. The Solar IDC 410 is affixed to
the inverter 120 to allow the cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 access
from the interior of the inverter 120 through the openings into the
interior of the Solar IDC 410.
The first pathway 243 includes the first pathway first cutter 252
and the first pathway second cutter 254. The second pathway 247
includes the second pathway first cutter 256 and the second pathway
second cutter 258. The first pathway first cutter 252 and the first
pathway second cutter 254 are configured to protrude through the
openings in ridges 430. The cutters 252 and 254 may be
strategically placed through the openings in ridges 430 based at
least in part on the gauge of the wire, the length of the wire, or
type of connection. Similarly, the second pathway first cutter 256
and the second pathway second cutter 258 may be configured to
protrude through the openings of ridges 440.
FIG. 4B illustrates a bottom view of a Solar IDC cover 260 that has
been removed. The cover edge 370 of the Solar IDC cover 260 has
cover cutouts 482, 484, 486, and 488. The cover cutouts 482, 484,
486, and 488 provide clearance for wires entering and exiting the
Solar IDC 210 when the Solar IDC cover 260 is fitted on the Solar
IDC 210. The cover cutouts 482, 484, 486, and 488 are aligned with
the base cutouts 422, 424, 426, and 428. For example, when the
Solar IDC cover 260 is on the base 210 of the Solar IDC 110, cover
cutout 482 may be aligned with base cutout 422, and cover cutout
386 may be aligned with base cutout 426. Thus, when the Solar IDC
cover 260 is placed on the base 210 of the Solar IDC 110, a wire
may pass through the first pathway 243 through base cutouts 422 and
426 and cover cutouts 482 and 486. Likewise, cover cutout 484 may
be aligned with base cutout 424, and cover cutout 488 may be
aligned with base cutout 428. Thus, when the Solar IDC cover 260 is
placed on the base 210 of the Solar IDC 110, a wire may pass
through the second pathway 247 through base cutouts 424 and 428 and
cover cutouts 484 and 488.
The cover cutouts 482, 484, 486, and 488 may be fitted with
grommets to create an environmental barrier to prevent
environmental contaminates from entering the Solar IDC 210. A
grommet may be configured to create a seal between a cover cutout
482, 484, 486, and 488 and the wire. Additionally, the cover
cutouts 482, 484, 486, and 488 may be configured with covers to
prevent environmental contaminates from entering the Solar IDC 210
when a base cutout 422, 424, 426, or 428 is not in use.
Alternatively, a grommet may be configured to work with both a base
cutout and a cover cutout.
FIG. 5A illustrates additional detail for the interior of a Solar
IDC. Cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 act as terminals for the
inverter 120 when in contact with the conductor of a wire. The
cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 may be wired to the components of
the inverter 120. Thus, the cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 may be
fabricated with the inverter 120 such that the cutters 252, 254,
256, and 258 extend through the top of the inverter 120. In
addition to extending through the top of the inverter 120, the
cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 may extend through the
understructure 410 (shown in FIG. 4) of the Solar IDC 110.
FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example wire 560
for use in conjunction with a cutter 550 of a Solar IDC. The wire
560 includes insulation 563 and conductor 567. The wire 560 is
placed in the cutter 550. The cutter 550 is constructed of a
conductive metal (e.g., silver, gold, brass, copper, zinc, nickel).
The edges of the cutter 550 may be sharpened facilitate cutting the
insulation 563 of the wire 560. When the wire 560 is pushed into
the in the cutter 550 it is sliced open displacing the insulation
563. The displaced insulation 563 exposes the conductor 567 of the
wire 560. By exposing the conductor 567 of the wire 560, the cutter
550 is able to make contact with the conductive cutter 550. In
addition to cutting the insulation 563 of the wire 560, the cutter
550 acts as a terminal for and inverter 120 (shown in FIG. 5A)
since the cutter 550 is conductive.
While example apparatus have been illustrated by describing
examples, and while the examples have been described in
considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to
restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to
such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every
conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes
of describing the systems, methods, and so on described herein.
Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details,
the representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and
described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace
alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the
scope of the appended claims.
To the extent that the term "includes" or "including" is employed
in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be
inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as that term
is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
To the extent that the term "or" is employed in the detailed
description or claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean "A or B
or both". When the applicants intend to indicate "only A or B but
not both" then the term "only A or B but not both" will be
employed. Thus, use of the term "or" herein is the inclusive, and
not the exclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern
Legal Usage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995).
To the extent that the phrase "one or more of, A, B, and C" is
employed herein, (e.g., a data store configured to store one or
more of, A, B, and C) it is intended to convey the set of
possibilities A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, and/or ABC (e.g., the data store
may store only A, only B, only C, A&B, A&C, B&C, and/or
A&B&C). It is not intended to require one of A, one of B,
and one of C. When the applicants intend to indicate "at least one
of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C", then the phrasing
"at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C" will
be employed.
* * * * *